Team Army Rules the Annual Dragon Boat Championships

 TEAM ARMY poses for a photo with competition organizers after receiving the Over-all Championship trophy in the Annual Dragon Boat Championships. (Photo by Cpl Joey Baniatan)

FORT BONIFACIO, Taguig City---Showing its dominance in the local Dragon Boat racing, the Philippine Army Dragon Boat Team outclassed its rivals in the 4th leg of the Annual Dragon Boat Championship held in Manila bay today. 

The soldier-powered 20-man crew of  paddlers bagged its championship trophy after clocking 48:00 seconds in the final heat of the 300 meter Men's event. Team DLSU followed with 50.51secs, Team Onslaught with 50.73secs and Team RCP with 55.56secs. 

Sergeant Usman Anterola, the Army Team Captain, said that their arduous training in the past weeks paid off.

"We worked hard to improve our performance by conducting serious training activities. This is also part of our preparation for the upcoming World Club Crew Championships which will be held in Hongkong in July 2012," said Anterola, who is also the Team Captain of the world-famous Pinoy Dragon Warriors. 

Army chief Lieutenant General Emmanuel Bautista promptly sent his congratulatory message to the team. "I would like to commend you for your exemplary feat. You are not only bringing honor to the Philippine Army but also the country as a whole," said Bautista. 

The Team DLSU bagged the championship trophy in the Mixed Event with a time of 53 secs. Team MOP trailed behind with 54.43secs, followed by Team Triton and Team RCP with 54.74 secs and 54.98secs respectively.

In the Women's event, Team Triton won the championship with a time of 1.57secs. Second placer Team DLSU clocked 2.11secs, followed by Team Onslaught and Team RCP with 2.15secs and 2.19secs respectively.

This is the 3rd championship trophy that the Army Team has won  in the 4-Leg Annual Dragon Boat Championship. For this reason, the team also received  the Over-all championship trophy in the Men's events.

Ten competing teams participated in the day-long competition held near the SM Mall of Asia.

ENTER THE DRAGON. The Team Army paddles towards the finish line to claim the championship trophy for the 300 Men's Event of the Annual Dragon Boat Championship held in Manila bay today (Jan 22). Seven of the Army Team's paddlers are members of the Dragon Boat team which brought home 5 Golds and 2 Silvers during the 10th IDBF World Dragon Boat Racing held in Tampa Bay in August 2011 (Photo by Major Harold M Cabunoc)